Mastering ‘Querer’: A Comprehensive Guide to Spanish Conjugation

Understanding the nuances of Spanish verbs is crucial for fluency, and the verb querer (to want) is no exception. Its irregular conjugation pattern makes it a common stumbling block for learners, but mastering it unlocks a deeper level of communication. This article provides a detailed exploration of querer, covering its definition, conjugation across various tenses, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced student, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently use querer in your Spanish conversations.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition of ‘Querer’
3. Structural Breakdown of ‘Querer’
4. Conjugation of ‘Querer’
   • Present Indicative
   • Preterite Indicative
   • Imperfect Indicative
   • Future Indicative
   • Conditional Indicative
   • Present Subjunctive
   • Imperfect Subjunctive
   • Future Subjunctive
   • Imperative
   • Progressive Tenses
   • Perfect Tenses
5. Examples of ‘Querer’ in Sentences
6. Usage Rules for ‘Querer’
7. Common Mistakes When Using ‘Querer’
8. Practice Exercises
9. Advanced Topics with ‘Querer’
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Conclusion

Definition of ‘Querer’

The Spanish verb querer primarily translates to “to want” or “to love” in English. It expresses a desire, wish, or affection for something or someone. Understanding its nuances is essential because it’s a fundamental verb used in everyday conversations. Beyond simple desires, querer can also indicate willingness or intention.

Querer is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation doesn’t follow the standard patterns of regular Spanish verbs. Specifically, it’s a stem-changing verb, where the vowel in the stem changes depending on the tense and person. This irregularity is crucial to remember when conjugating the verb.

The verb belongs to the second conjugation group (verbs ending in -er). However, its stem-changing characteristic sets it apart from many regular -er verbs. The stem change typically involves the vowel e changing to ie in certain forms, adding complexity to its conjugation.

Structural Breakdown of ‘Querer’

The infinitive form of the verb is querer. The stem of the verb, used for conjugation, is quer-. The ending -er indicates that it belongs to the second conjugation group of Spanish verbs. The stem change occurs in the present indicative, present subjunctive, and imperative moods.

The stem change involves the e in the stem changing to ie in all forms except nosotros and vosotros in the present indicative and present subjunctive. This stem change is a common feature of many irregular Spanish verbs and understanding it is key to mastering querer. For example, yo quiero (I want) demonstrates this stem change.

In tenses like the preterite, imperfect, future, and conditional, the stem remains unchanged, and regular -er endings are added. This simplifies the conjugation in these tenses compared to the present tense.

Recognizing when the stem changes and when it remains constant is essential for accurate conjugation.

Conjugation of ‘Querer’

The conjugation of querer varies significantly across different tenses and moods. The stem change plays a crucial role in some tenses, while others follow a more regular pattern. This section provides a detailed breakdown of its conjugation.

Present Indicative

The present indicative is used to express actions happening now or habitual actions. Querer undergoes a stem change (e → ie) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

Here is the conjugation table for the present indicative:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Translation
Yo	quiero	I want
Tú	quieres	You want
Él/Ella/Usted	quiere	He/She/You (formal) want
Nosotros	queremos	We want
Vosotros	queréis	You (plural, informal) want
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	quieren	They/You (plural, formal) want

Preterite Indicative

The preterite indicative is used to express completed actions in the past. In this tense, querer is regular and does not undergo a stem change. The stem remains quer-.

Here is the conjugation table for the preterite indicative:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Translation
Yo	quise	I wanted
Tú	quisiste	You wanted
Él/Ella/Usted	quiso	He/She/You (formal) wanted
Nosotros	quisimos	We wanted
Vosotros	quisisteis	You (plural, informal) wanted
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	quisieron	They/You (plural, formal) wanted

Imperfect Indicative

The imperfect indicative is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. Like the preterite, querer is regular in this tense and does not undergo a stem change.

Here is the conjugation table for the imperfect indicative:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Translation
Yo	quería	I wanted (used to want)
Tú	querías	You wanted (used to want)
Él/Ella/Usted	quería	He/She/You (formal) wanted (used to want)
Nosotros	queríamos	We wanted (used to want)
Vosotros	queríais	You (plural, informal) wanted (used to want)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	querían	They/You (plural, formal) wanted (used to want)

Future Indicative

The future indicative is used to express actions that will happen in the future. The entire infinitive querer is used as the stem, and regular future endings are added.

Here is the conjugation table for the future indicative:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Translation
Yo	querré	I will want
Tú	querrás	You will want
Él/Ella/Usted	querrá	He/She/You (formal) will want
Nosotros	querremos	We will want
Vosotros	querréis	You (plural, informal) will want
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	querrán	They/You (plural, formal) will want

Conditional Indicative

The conditional indicative is used to express what would happen under certain conditions. Like the future tense, the entire infinitive querer is used as the stem.

Here is the conjugation table for the conditional indicative:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Translation
Yo	querría	I would want
Tú	querrías	You would want
Él/Ella/Usted	querría	He/She/You (formal) would want
Nosotros	querríamos	We would want
Vosotros	querríais	You (plural, informal) would want
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	querrían	They/You (plural, formal) would want

Present Subjunctive

The present subjunctive is used to express doubts, wishes, possibilities, or emotions. Querer undergoes a stem change (e → ie) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

Here is the conjugation table for the present subjunctive:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Translation
Yo	quiera	I want (subjunctive)
Tú	quieras	You want (subjunctive)
Él/Ella/Usted	quiera	He/She/You (formal) want (subjunctive)
Nosotros	queramos	We want (subjunctive)
Vosotros	queráis	You (plural, informal) want (subjunctive)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	quieran	They/You (plural, formal) want (subjunctive)

Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive has two forms. Both are used to express hypothetical or past subjunctive actions or states. The first form is created by using the third person plural form of the preterite indicative (quisieron) and dropping the -ron ending and adding -ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -rais, -ran. The second form is created similarly, but instead uses the endings -se, -ses, -se, -semos, -seis, -sen.

Here is the conjugation table for the imperfect subjunctive (both forms):

Pronoun	Conjugation (Form 1)	Conjugation (Form 2)	Translation
Yo	quisiera	quisiese	I wanted (subjunctive)
Tú	quisieras	quisieses	You wanted (subjunctive)
Él/Ella/Usted	quisiera	quisiese	He/She/You (formal) wanted (subjunctive)
Nosotros	quisiéramos	quisiésemos	We wanted (subjunctive)
Vosotros	quisierais	quisieseis	You (plural, informal) wanted (subjunctive)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	quisieran	quisiesen	They/You (plural, formal) wanted (subjunctive)

Future Subjunctive

The future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish. It is typically found in legal or formal contexts.

It is formed by taking the third person plural of the preterite form of the verb, dropping the -ron ending, and adding -re, -res, -re, -remos, -reis, -ren.

Here is the conjugation table for the rarely used future subjunctive:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Translation
Yo	quisiere	I should want (subjunctive)
Tú	quisieres	You should want (subjunctive)
Él/Ella/Usted	quisiere	He/She/You (formal) should want (subjunctive)
Nosotros	quisiéremos	We should want (subjunctive)
Vosotros	quisiereis	You (plural, informal) should want (subjunctive)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	quisieren	They/You (plural, formal) should want (subjunctive)

Imperative

The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The affirmative tú form is quiere. The negative tú form is formed using the present subjunctive: no quieras. The formal command (usted) also uses the present subjunctive: quiera (affirmative) and no quiera (negative). The nosotros form also uses the subjunctive: queramos.

Here is a table showing the imperative forms:

Pronoun	Affirmative	Negative	Translation
Tú	quiere	no quieras	Want! / Don’t want!
Usted	quiera	no quiera	Want! / Don’t want! (formal)
Nosotros	queramos	no queramos	Let’s want! / Let’s not want!
Vosotros	quered	no queráis	Want! / Don’t want! (plural informal)
Ustedes	quieran	no quieran	Want! / Don’t want! (plural formal)

Progressive Tenses

Progressive tenses are formed using the auxiliary verb estar and the gerund of querer (queriendo). These tenses describe actions in progress.

Example:

• Estoy queriendo aprender español. (I am wanting to learn Spanish.)
• Estábamos queriendo ir a la playa. (We were wanting to go to the beach.)

Perfect Tenses

Perfect tenses are formed using the auxiliary verb haber and the past participle of querer (querido). These tenses describe actions that have been completed.

Example:

• He querido viajar a España. (I have wanted to travel to Spain.)
• Habíamos querido comprar una casa nueva. (We had wanted to buy a new house.)

Examples of ‘Querer’ in Sentences

Understanding how querer is used in context is crucial for mastering its usage. The following tables provide various examples across different tenses and situations.

Present Indicative Examples:

Sentence	Translation
Yo quiero un café, por favor.	I want a coffee, please.
¿Tú quieres ir al cine esta noche?	Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?
Él quiere aprender a tocar la guitarra.	He wants to learn to play the guitar.
Ella quiere mucho a su perro.	She loves her dog very much.
Usted quiere hablar con el gerente.	You (formal) want to speak with the manager.
Nosotros queremos viajar a Europa el próximo año.	We want to travel to Europe next year.
Vosotros queréis ir de compras mañana.	You (plural, informal) want to go shopping tomorrow.
Ellos quieren comprar un coche nuevo.	They want to buy a new car.
Ellas quieren ir a la fiesta.	They (feminine) want to go to the party.
Ustedes quieren cenar en un restaurante elegante.	You (plural, formal) want to dine in an elegant restaurant.
No quiero ir al trabajo hoy.	I don’t want to go to work today.
¿Quieres un poco más de pastel?	Do you want some more cake?
Mi hermana quiere ser doctora.	My sister wants to be a doctor.
Queremos ayudar a los necesitados.	We want to help those in need.
Quieren ver el partido de fútbol.	They want to watch the soccer game.
Siempre quiero lo mejor para ti.	I always want the best for you.
No quiero problemas.	I don’t want any problems.
¿Qué quieres para tu cumpleaños?	What do you want for your birthday?
Queremos una casa con jardín.	We want a house with a garden.
Quieren vivir en la playa.	They want to live on the beach.

Preterite Indicative Examples:

Sentence	Translation
Yo quise comprar ese libro, pero estaba agotado.	I wanted to buy that book, but it was sold out.
Tú quisiste hablar con ella ayer.	You wanted to talk to her yesterday.
Él quiso ayudar, pero no pudo.	He wanted to help, but he couldn’t.
Ella quiso ir al concierto, pero no tenía entradas.	She wanted to go to the concert, but she didn’t have tickets.
Nosotros quisimos ir de vacaciones el verano pasado.	We wanted to go on vacation last summer.
Vosotros quisisteis aprender francés.	You (plural, informal) wanted to learn French.
Ellos quisieron visitar el museo.	They wanted to visit the museum.
Quise llamarte, pero no tuve tiempo.	I wanted to call you, but I didn’t have time.
¿Quisiste decir eso?	Did you mean to say that?
Quisimos sorprenderla con una fiesta.	We wanted to surprise her with a party.
Quisieron venir, pero no pudieron.	They wanted to come, but they couldn’t.
Quise ayudarte, pero era demasiado tarde.	I wanted to help you, but it was too late.
Quisimos comprar esa casa, pero era muy cara.	We wanted to buy that house, but it was too expensive.
Quisiste hablar con él, ¿verdad?	You wanted to talk to him, right?
Quisieron participar en la competencia.	They wanted to participate in the competition.
Quise hacer algo especial para ti.	I wanted to do something special for you.
Quisimos llegar temprano, pero el tráfico era terrible.	We wanted to arrive early, but the traffic was terrible.
Quisieron evitar la confrontación.	They wanted to avoid the confrontation.
Quise escribirte una carta.	I wanted to write you a letter.
Quisimos ir al concierto, pero se agotaron las entradas.	We wanted to go to the concert, but the tickets were sold out.

Imperfect Indicative Examples:

Sentence	Translation
Yo quería ser astronauta cuando era niño.	I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a child.
Tú querías mucho a tu abuela.	You loved your grandmother very much.
Él quería jugar al fútbol todos los días.	He wanted to play soccer every day.
Ella quería un perro para su cumpleaños.	She wanted a dog for her birthday.
Nosotros queríamos vivir en España.	We wanted to live in Spain.
Vosotros queríais viajar por el mundo.	You (plural, informal) wanted to travel the world.
Ellos querían tener una casa grande.	They wanted to have a big house.
Siempre quería ir a ese restaurante.	I always wanted to go to that restaurant.
¿Qué querías ser de grande?	What did you want to be when you grew up?
Queríamos ir a la playa todos los veranos.	We wanted to go to the beach every summer.
Querían tener hijos algún día.	They wanted to have children someday.
Quería aprender a tocar el piano.	I wanted to learn to play the piano.
Queríamos comprar un coche nuevo.	We wanted to buy a new car.
Querías ser famoso, ¿verdad?	You wanted to be famous, right?
Querían mudarse a una ciudad más grande.	They wanted to move to a bigger city.
Quería cambiar el mundo.	I wanted to change the world.
Queríamos tener una casa en el campo.	We wanted to have a house in the countryside.
Querían abrir su propio negocio.	They wanted to open their own business.
Quería escribir un libro.	I wanted to write a book.
Queríamos viajar juntos.	We wanted to travel together.

Usage Rules for ‘Querer’

Querer typically expresses a desire or intention. It is often followed by an infinitive verb, indicating what is desired. For example, Quiero comer (I want to eat).

When expressing affection, querer is used to mean “to love,” but it’s a less intense form of love than amar. Querer is generally used for family, friends, and partners, while amar is reserved for deeper, more passionate love.

The use of the personal a is not required before a person when querer means “to want” someone to do something, but it *is* required when it means “to love” someone. For example: Quiero que Juan limpie la casa (I want Juan to clean the house), but Quiero a Juan (I love Juan).

Querer can also be used to make polite requests or offers. For example, ¿Quieres un café? (Do you want a coffee?).

Common Mistakes When Using ‘Querer’

A common mistake is forgetting the stem change in the present indicative and present subjunctive. For example, saying Yo quero instead of the correct Yo quiero.

Another mistake is using amar when querer is more appropriate. Amar implies a deeper, more intense love, so using it casually can sound overly dramatic. Be mindful of the intensity of the emotion you want to convey.

Confusing the preterite and imperfect tenses is another common error. The preterite (quise) indicates a completed action, while the imperfect (quería) describes an ongoing or habitual action in the past.

Here’s a table illustrating common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Yo quero un helado.	Yo quiero un helado.	Incorrect form of present indicative.
Te amo mucho, amigo.	Te quiero mucho, amigo.	Amar is too strong for a friend; querer is more appropriate.
Ayer quería comprar un coche. (Used when you bought the car)	Ayer quise comprar un coche.	Use preterite to denote a completed action.
¿Quieres a beber algo?	¿Quieres beber algo?	Do not use “a” before an infinitive.
Querer que vengas.	Quiero que vengas.	Missing the conjugation for “yo”.
Quiero a mi madre amar.	Quiero amar a mi madre.	Incorrect word order.
Quisiera que tu vengas.	Quisiera que vinieras.	Incorrect subjunctive form.
No quiero a ir.	No quiero ir.	Incorrect use of ‘a’ before infinitive.
Queremos que ellos hacen eso.	Queremos que ellos hagan eso.	Improper subjunctive conjugation.
Quiero tu conmigo.	Te quiero conmigo.	Incorrect use of pronouns.

Practice Exercises

Test your knowledge of querer with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb.

Exercise 1: Present Indicative

Sentence	Answer
Yo ________ (querer) un nuevo teléfono.	quiero
¿Tú ________ (querer) ir al parque?	quieres
Él ________ (querer) aprender español.	quiere
Nosotros ________ (querer) comer ahora.	queremos
Vosotros ________ (querer) bailar?	queréis
Ellos ________ (querer) ver la película.	quieren
Ella ________ (querer) un helado.	quiere
Ustedes ________ (querer) venir con nosotros?	quieren
¿Qué ________ (querer) hacer hoy?	quieres
No ________ (querer) ir a la fiesta.	quiero

Exercise 2: Preterite Indicative

Sentence	Answer
Ayer yo ________ (querer) comprar un coche.	quise
Tú ________ (querer) visitar a tu abuela.	quisiste
Él ________ (querer) ayudarme con la tarea.	quiso
Nosotros ________ (querer) ir al cine el sábado pasado.	quisimos
Vosotros ________ (querer) aprender a cocinar.	quisisteis
Ellos ________ (querer) viajar a México.	quisieron
Ella ________ (querer) hablar contigo.	quiso
Usted ________ (querer) decir algo?	quiso
Yo ________ (querer) dormir más.	quise
Nosotros ________ (querer) llegar temprano.	quisimos

Exercise 3: Imperfect Indicative

Sentence	Answer
Cuando era niño, yo ________ (querer) ser bombero.	quería
Tú ________ (querer) mucho a tu mascota.	querías
Él ________ (querer) jugar videojuegos todo el día.	quería
Nosotros ________ (querer) ir a la playa cada verano.	queríamos
Vosotros ________ (querer) tener una casa grande.	queríais
Ellos ________ (querer) viajar por el mundo.	querían
Ella ________ (querer) un caballo.	quería
Yo ________ (querer) ser famoso.	quería
Nosotros ________ (querer) comer helado todos los días.	queríamos
Ellos ________ (querer) tener un perro.	querían

Exercise 4: Present Subjunctive

Sentence	Answer
Es importante que yo ________ (querer) estudiar.	quiera
Es necesario que tú ________ (querer) venir.	quieras
Es bueno que él ________ (querer) ayudar.	quiera
Es esencial que nosotros ________ (querer) participar.	queramos
Es importante que vosotros ________ (querer) aprender.	queráis
Es posible que ellos ________ (querer) ir.	quieran
Dudo que ella ________ (querer) salir.	quiera
Espero que ustedes ________ (querer) visitarnos.	quieran
No creo que yo ________ (querer) hacer eso.	quiera
Ojalá que nosotros ________ (querer) tener éxito.	queramos

Advanced Topics with ‘Querer’

Beyond basic conjugation, querer appears in various idiomatic expressions and advanced grammatical structures. Understanding these nuances can enhance your proficiency in Spanish.

The phrase querer decir means “to mean” or “to signify.” For example, ¿Qué quieres decir? translates to “What do you mean?” This phrase is frequently used in conversations to ask for clarification.

Querer can be used with the subjunctive mood to express desires, doubts, or hypothetical situations. The structure querer que (to want that) is typically followed by a subjunctive clause. For example, Quiero que vengas (I want you to come).

Querer can also imply an attempt or near-miss, particularly in the preterite tense. For example, Casi quise llorar (I almost wanted to cry) suggests a strong emotional reaction that was nearly expressed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering the verb querer is essential for effective communication in Spanish. Its irregular conjugation, particularly the stem change, requires careful attention and practice. By understanding its various tenses, moods, usage rules, and common mistakes, you can confidently use querer in a wide range of contexts. Continue practicing with examples and exercises to solidify your knowledge and enhance your fluency in Spanish. With consistent effort, you’ll be able to express your desires, affections, and intentions with precision and ease.